The referee pointed to the spot for a harsh penalty, as Jeremy Menez’s solo run was charged down by an Emanuele Terranova trailing arm as he was falling. Menez took the kick himself and buried it with a low finish into the near corner.

Domenico Berardi almost equalised immediately with a quickly-taken free kick that stung Christian Abbiati’s gloves and from that corner Sergio Floro Flores nodded wide. Berardi was again dangerous on the counter, but Colombian duo Cristian Zapata and Pablo Armero combined to crowd him out.

Stephan El Shaarawy doubled Milan’s lead by running on to an inspired Keisuke Honda through ball and kept his cool to slot the finish past Polito.

Menez wanted another goal and his angled drive flashed inches wide of the far post, while Pomini was at full stretch to deny El Shaarawy.

Giampaolo Pazzini trapped a Bryan Cristante assist only to fire off target under pressure. Milan’s 16-year-old talent Hachim Mastour, who was born here in Reggio Emilia, came on for the final minutes. He impressed, setting up a chance that Pazzini and Riccardo Saponara didn’t make the most of from six yards.